Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
County residents have until noon Feb. 17 to declare their candidacy for several public offices.
This year's primary election, May 2, features races for circuit court judge, prosecuting attorney, county auditor, recorder, sheriff, assessor, southern district commissioner and four council districts.
All township assessors - in Wayne, Plain, Turkey Creek and Tippecanoe townships; 17 township trustees and 51 (three for each township) township advisory board member posts will be decided this year.
Seats are available on the Tippecanoe Valley, Wa-Nee and Whitko school boards.
As of Monday morning, no one had filed in Districts 3, 4 or 5 for the Tippecanoe Valley School Board nor for the three open districts on the Wa-Nee School board.
Valley candidates must live in Franklin Township. Voters living in Franklin, Seward and Harrison townships will vote for the Franklin Township resident as well as for the Fulton County candidate of their choice.
Scott Township voters will participate in the Wa-Nee School board election along with part of Jefferson Township residents. They will vote for candidates living in Elkhart County.
For the Whitko School Board election, two seats are available; one each in Districts 1 and 2. Pete Mitchell is seeking re-election in District 2.
Precinct committeemen and state delegates also will be elected, if necessary.
Committeemen and Republican state delegates are decided every election year. If just one entrant files as precinct committeeman or the available delegate position, their names will not appear on the ballot. If two or more people file, voters select their representative.
There are 65 precincts in the county. Since Jefferson Township residents vote in one place, their precincts are combined into one. There are 62 precinct committeeman openings. There are 21 specific district delegates plus nine at-large delegates.
Two seats are up for election on the Syracuse Town Council - District 1, currently held by Larry Siegel, and District 2 - held by Paul Stoelting.
As of Monday, there were three candidates for county auditor: Marsha McSherry, Marie Sarber and Luke Rodriguez; and three candidates for the Wayne Township Trustee's office: LaShawn Brumfield, Sheila Bruner and Daniel Slone.
The sheriff's office has two candidates - Rocky Goshert and Sam Whitaker.
There are two office-seekers for the District 4 county council seat, where incumbent John Kinsey is challenged by George Klinger. District 1 incumbent Charlene Knispel is running for re-election. No one has announced candidacies for District 2, held by Harold Jones, or for District 3, held by Brad Tandy.
